Landmarks and location of the Grand Canyon in Crimea

Tourists, travelers or those who dream of becoming such often think that it is necessary to discover the world from famous capitals, famous places. And if you have not been to Rome or Paris, you are not familiar with the beauties of the world and have seen little. As usual, the matter is in the atmosphere, associations, advertising, the established image. City tourism is one thing, but acquaintance with nature, its grandeur, the diversity of its forms and the magnificence of the species - this is a journey of a completely different nature.

If there are not enough funds for a tour of European capitals, there is always the opportunity to go on a budget trip to the Crimea, to get acquainted with its beauty, for example, with the Great Crimean Canyon.

The Grand Canyon in this area was formed in the Upper Jurassic massive limestone rocks. The effect of water erosion has led to its formation. It happened not less than one and a half million years ago. A large canyon of the Crimea was formed in the tectonic crack zone.

Its location is the Crimean Mountains, five kilometers southeast of the village of Sokolinoi, in the Bakhchsarai district. The canyon is considered the northeastern boundary of the Ai-Petri massif, the Boyka massif. Its depth is more than 320 m, and its length is 3.5 km, the width of the canyon in some places is no more than 3 m.

If you delve into the history, you can find out exactly how this natural splendor was formed, striking in scope, types, relief. Approximately 200 million years ago, the Tethys Sea was located on the peninsular territory, the remains of bioorganisms were deposited on its bottom for a long time. The subsidence, faults, movements of the earth’s layers, as well as numerous solid destructions on land led to the fact that in difficult conditions and for a long time rocks were formed at the foot of the canyon.

These rocks are called sandstones, argillites, siltstones. Above them are already young rocks, called flysch: that is, layered interweaving of clay with sandstones. And on the flysch there are carbonate limestone rocks, which are remnants of bioorganisms in warm water. The lower, middle, and carbonate layers occurred in the Jurassic geological period (it lasted 55 million years).

137 million years ago, the Crimea rose from the water, dried up. Hardened mountain layers became tender due to movements of the earth's crust, cracks began to form on them. In the area of ​​the canyon itself formed a sufficient depth of the crack. Then water solved everything: it dissolved the rocks, and limestone too. The peninsula rose, the water dissolved and pierced the narrow gap of the Crimean canyon.

It turns out that millions of years of tectonic labor, the relentless rise of the peninsula, the effects of surface water have created the image of a cleft in the crust, which today is called a canyon. It is interesting not only to geologists, but also to all tourists who know how to appreciate the gigantic and incomparable work of nature.

The channel of the canyon is a hollow smooth-wall along the sides. At the bottom of its blocks and boulders, with waterfalls and rapids, with erosion cauldrons. These boilers are called baths, their depth can reach two and a half meters, length - 10 m. There are about 150 such boilers.

They irrigate this place endless mountain streams, streams, springs.For example, Pania, the most prominent of them, consumes 350 liters of water per second at an average annual consumption. The temperature indicator of water in the Auzun-Uzen river, into which mountain streams merge, does not rise above 11 degrees.

The microclimate of the Grand Canyon of Crimea is, above all, a high level of humidity, as well as a lower (compared to the surrounding area) level of temperatures. All vegetation is in no hurry to grow here: it lags behind the surrounding flora by almost a month.

The slopes of the canyon are limestone, pale gray, and sometimes pinkish, in some places overgrown with small groups of Crimean serostvolnyh pine. But at the bottom of the gorge - deciduous forests. Their bright representatives are beech, ash, and also hornbeam, mountain ash, linden, field maple. The undergrowth is represented by shrubs - hazelnut, barberry, cornel, buckthorn, ivy is also growing here.

But the main feature of the flora of the Grand Canyon of Crimea is not this: here grows a tertiary relict, about one and a half thousand yew berry. Old trees can reach one and a half meters in diameter, and their height can be equal to a high-rise building (up to 15 m). And in the canyon there are really rare species of fern, and that will especially please lovers of botany, more than half of the Crimean orchid species grow here.

As for the fauna, then everyone who has been here wanted to see that same brook trout, which lives exclusively in the cold, oxygen-rich water of local rivers. You can meet in this area hedgehog, badger, weasel, quivering roe. Ornithologists will be pleased to see the Crimean tuxedo, long-tailed titmouse, resilient woodpecker, warbler, jay, robin and roetail. Reptiles are ubiquitous lizards.

It is known that in 1947 the Soviet government declared the Grand Canyon a nature sanctuary, in the 70s it was given the status of a landscape reserve. There it is impossible to pick flowers, to cut trees, to spend the night with tents and fires. Everything that could violate the ecology of the territory was banned.

Today canyon tours are popular, interesting and well thought out by the organizers.

If you are exactly seduced by the mountain Crimea, then be sure to choose the tourist route to the Grand Canyon. Take a camera with you, do not forget to make a video, share your impressions right in the process of the excursion - then you will mount, you will get an impressive movie.

A tour is a one day hike. The hike will take 6 km, and transfer - 140 at both ends. The question arises, is it possible for everyone to go on such a journey? It is believed that almost everyone is able to take this route without loss.

Approximate tour plan:

• Transfer from Sevastopol to the village of Sokolinoye. Here, on the northeastern slopes of the Ai-Petri massif, a canyon begins. The journey itself to the starting point will be fascinating: the ancient Chorgun tower, cave monasteries, Karalez sphinxes, unusual rocks - I want to stay at each of the listed points.

• Blue Lake. It occurs along the route pretty soon. And here prepare the camera, because not to capture these beauty is simply impossible. But first you can see for yourself the dazzling smooth surface of an incredible watercolor color. Surrounding this water mirror are marvelous emerald bushes and branches bent down, as if paying tribute to the beauty of the lake, trees. There are always a lot of tourists. The water in the lake is cool, and in the heat it really attracts those who wish to refresh themselves.But there is another secret in the reservoir. Its second name is Lake of Love.

• Source Pania. What is certainly full of canyons is the opportunity to swim. And the largest karst source of the peninsula is also suitable for this business. There is a legend that the chapel of the Most Holy Theotokos was once on the site of a raging spring. Orthodox people flocked here from everywhere to ask the intercession of the Divine Mother. For this reason, even today the water in Panya is considered holy.

• "Bath of youth". Perhaps, here it is worthwhile to take a bath for those who have not done this either in Blue Lake or in Pania. The depth of this bath is 3 m. You cannot call water warm, it does not rise above 13 degrees. But the brave tourists still decide to swim here, because swimming promises a serious rejuvenation for the body. You can check, again, only on their own experience. If you are afraid to freeze, then immediately after the rejuvenating bath you can warm yourself with tea from local herbs, which are sold here to tourists. After taking a bath excursion group is sent back.

• Old post oak. It actually stands at the exit of the canyon. There is a version that during the Great Patriotic War the partisans hid notes in it. Today, tourists leave messages to each other in an old oak tree. True, relatively recently a lightning hit the historic tree, the post oak almost burned down.

• North channel. Here, tourists make a walk through the beech forest. It is here that the attentive traveler will see the hyglyphus, the fern, relic trees and the same lady's slipper.

• Waterfall Silver Jets. It is not very big, but beautiful. On the grotto covered with emerald moss, water flows in thin streams - against the background of the blinding sun, they seem to be silver threads. The picture is fabulous.

• Suspension bridge. This is the longest suspension bridge on the peninsula, its length is 100 m, and the maximum height frightens and delights at the same time - 70 m. Of course, not everyone will risk running through it, but if you wish, you are fastened and wish good luck.

By the way, among other extreme-options of this tourist route - zipline and descent along the slope with equipment for climbers. Beginners should seriously think: adventure can tickle your nerves. If before such challenges you did not throw yourself, it will be scary.

Walk, springs, lake, bridge, waterfall, admiring the enchanting vegetation of the Grand Canyon - all this can enter your program of one day. But what to do during the tour just can not, so it kindle fires, collect bouquets of plants of the reserve, drink alcohol and litter. However, a civilized tourist is able to fill himself with impressions and without these points.

Perhaps many will want to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon in the Crimea. How to get here by yourself? The answer is banal - to come by car. If you are coming from Yalta, keep the course to the highway Yalta-Bakhchisarai. From Simferopol to the canyon also get through Bakhchisarai. And the car there is not particularly needed - from the bus station to the village of Sokolinoye there are minibuses. Then 5 km you can take a taxi or walk.

In order not to get lost, even on the "big land" make sure you understand on the map where everything is. Carry a charged phone with you, make screenshots of the card in it just in case. Take a light sport jacket with you, even if the sun burns mercilessly, it can be cool at the bottom of the canyon. After heavy rains, it is not advised to visit the canyon: there is a risk that a stone will fall over your head. Do not go where you do not see the trails laid, do not climb on dangerous slopes, do not separate from the excursion group.

Observing safety rules, you can be sure that the Crimean wonders of nature will open for you from the best of their parties.

Then watch the video review of the Grand Canyon in the Crimea.